Underwater gun.



W. SWIDERSKI.

UNDERWATER GUN.

APPLICATION man AUG. 7. |917.

1 ,270,988. Patented July 2, 1918.

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`within and beneath WLADISLAW SWIDERSKI, OF PEYSHTIGO, WISCONSIN.

UNDERWATER GUN.

To all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, VVLADISLAW SWIDERSKI, a citizen of Russia, residing at Peshtigo, in the county of Marinette and State of f Wisconsin, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Underwater Guns, of which the following is a speciicationi This invention relates to certain new and useful improve-ments in underwater guns.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a gun adapted for firing missiles beneath the surface of the water and whereby shots may be fired from below the water line of a vessel or a shore battery.

A further object of the device Ais the provision of a gun adapted for firing missiles at distant objects in the water while the gun as well as the missiles are entirely hidden from view beneath the surface of the water and whereby the position of the gunners will not be apparent to the enemy so as to return the fire.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an underwater gun arranged for normally maintaining the muzzle of the gun barrel closed against the entrance of water while the barrel is automatically opened for permitting the passing o f the projectile therethrough while the device 1s tired, the structure possessing great strength but being easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the drawing forming a1 part of this application and in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts through out the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device partially broken away illustrated in its operative arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the forward portion of the device with the closing means illustrated by dotted lines in its open arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same with parts shown in section, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the forward end of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the device is herein illustrated as broadly comprising a gun barrel 10 mounted upon a carriage 11 carried by a deck or platform 12 within a ship 13, the muzzle portion 111 of the barrel projecting outwardly of the ship the surface of the water 15.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1918.

Application led August 7.1917. Serial No. 184,845.

Substantially any form of a gun barrel 10 may be adapted for the present arrangement having a breach loading mechanism arranged within the ship. A tube 17 is threaded through a stufiing box 18 in the sideof the ship 13 and is arranged with a vertical slot 19 in its free end for accommodating an extension 20 of an arm 21 pivoted to spaced lugs 22 carried by the end of the tube and having a closure disk or cap 23 for engaging over the muzzle 24 of thebari rel 10.

The cap 23 preferably has a reduced portion 25 adapted for entering the muzzle 24 and preferably arranged with a suitable annular packing 26 for engaging the forward end of the gun. A rod 27 is threaded through the tube 17 having a handle 28 arranged within the ship 13, the arrangement being such that by screwing the rod 27 outwardly, the free end 29 thereof will be brought into engagement with the extension 20 for locking the cap 23 closed upon the muzzle 24.

llhen it is desired to tire the gun, the rod 27 is withdrawn rearwardly of the slot 19 which permits the air within the bore 30 of the barrel 10 forwardly of the projectile to forcibly engage the cap portion 25 in advance of the missile passing outwardly through the barrel and thereby swinging the cap 23 upon its pivot 31. After the missile has left the gun for traveling through the water, the water pressure closes the cap 23 upon the muzzle 21 it being noted however that when the cap 23 flies open the extension 20 is brought forcibly into engagement with a spring 32 carried by the adjacent side of a finger 33 which depends from the tube 17 so that the cap immediately iies back automatically to its closed position and will be held closed by the water pressure as well as by the screw 27.

It will be understood that the barrel 10 is normally held closed in the manner herein described while upon releasing the cap the gun may be fired and any water entering the barrel 10 while the cap is open will pass rearwardly out of the breech end of the gun when the latter is open, while successive shots may he made in rapid succession.

What I claim as new is 1. A gun adapted for firing projectiles beneath the water from a ship, comprising a barrel arranged with its muzzle portion projecting through the side of the ship beneath the 4Water line; a tube arranged adjacent the barrel having one end v within the. ship and the Vother terminating adjacent the outer end of' the barrel and arranged Withva vertical' 5 slot,l a closure cap for the outer end of the andl having an extension adapted for Inovement through the said slot; and 'a rodar! ranged through the tube adapted for engag- 10 j, ing the 'said extension ,fO- retainingthe calo "closed when the rod :is 'projeoted'H74 'L l i v2, A gun adaptedforring projectiles bejneathfthe, Water Vfrom a ship, comprising "a zbagrrel arranged With its muzzle portion Vpro- 15 yj eg'zting through the side of the'. shipbeneath Vthe'v v/"ater line, atube arranged adjaeentthe K n g l In testimony whereof I aiiix my s1 'l'barrel having'one endv Within thef'ship andV 'l 1 i ',ltherother terminating adjacent thei outer end ,Y

ofYV barreii and arrangedxv'vith a i'ertical ,s1ot,-afe1osurefcap: forf the outer end of the barrel hingedto the outer end of theftube and having an extension adapted for move- `ment through the said slot and a rod arlbarrel hinged to :the outer endiofithe 'tube ranged ,through the tube adapted orengaging thel said extension for retaining` the'cap closed tWhen thefrod is projected, a depending inger carried by the said tube adjacent the said4 slot arranged Within thefswinging pathjof movement of'thesaid extension, a

,returnspring-Yfor the cap vcarried by' the said linger, thegsaid eapfhavng agredueed face 4portion'. adapted for vnormal positioning 'Within' the. muzzle of the barren.V

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"fopie's -of this` patent may yobtained for five idents' eeen,lbyiaddressinlguthe YiCommissioner of vratelgiwts,

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